INEOS Grenadiers part ways with performance chief as ambitious 18 month experiment ends

Almost 18 months after appointing him to spearhead a new performance direction, INEOS Grenadiers have ended their collaboration with Mehdi Kordi.

Respected journalist Daniel Benson reports on his SubStack that Kordi left the British WorldTour outfit last week, despite still being listed on the team’s website at the time of publication.

Kordi joined INEOS in October 2024 as Head of Performance Support and Innovation, arriving with a formidable track pedigree.

As national coach of the Dutch sprint programme, he had overseen a haul of Olympic medals in Paris and multiple world and European titles. His appointment was framed as part of a broader performance restructure inside the team.

The logic behind the hire was clear. INEOS were seeking marginal gains and fresh thinking at a time when rivals had surged ahead in key areas of performance and race execution. Kordi’s background in elite track sprinting offered a different lens on speed, aerodynamics and neuromuscular optimisation.

One of the most visible early projects under his remit was the attempt to sharpen Caleb Ewan’s lead-out and finishing speed ahead of the 2025 season. Ewan spent time back on the Manchester velodrome as part of that approach. However, the Australian’s unexpected mid-season retirement last May effectively curtailed what had been positioned as a sprint revival within the squad.

Kordi was also reported to have worked with time trial talent Joshua Tarling on track-based optimisation of his position, reinforcing the sense that INEOS were attempting to blend track science with road performance.

The timing of the split comes amid a broader evolution at INEOS. The return of Dave Brailsford to a more hands-on leadership role and the transition of Geraint Thomas into a senior racing position have signalled a shift in emphasis towards structural clarity and modern race understanding.

Kordi’s departure does not erase the intent behind his hiring. Rather, it underscores the complexity of translating track dominance into sustained road success at WorldTour level. The performance department was one of several areas revisited after a challenging 2024 campaign, and change has continued into 2026.

INEOS have yet to issue a formal public statement regarding the split. For now, Benson’s report provides the clearest indication that the Kordi chapter has come to an end, marking another adjustment in the team’s ongoing rebuild.